SAID AQIL SIRADJ NEW NU CHAIRMAN

Makassar, S Sulawesi, March 27 (ANTARA) - KH Said Aqil Siradj was elected as the new chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) at the roganization's congress here on Saturday.

Said would lead Indonesia's largest Islamic organization for the next five years from 2010 to 2015 along with KH Sahal Mahfudz who was earlier chosen as the chief of the organization's consultative body (syuriah).

Said won 294 votes beating his rival Slamet Effendy Yusuf who collected only 201 votes.

Other candidates failed because they could not garner the minimum of 99 votes in the initial vote. They are Salahuddin Wahid, Masdar F Masudi, Ahmad Bagdja, Ali Maschan Moesa and Ulil Abshar Abdalla.

Said failed to win the election for the post in the past two congresses.